A new investigation surrounding La Promesa Early Learning Center has found nearly half a million dollars in school funds were funneled into a former employee’s personal bank accounts between 2010 and 2016.

That investigation, completed by State Auditor Tim Keller, says the school’s former assistant business manager deposited 500 checks written to 53 different vendors into her personal accounts during that time frame.

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The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has been given this case for review to determine if any charges should be filed, according to Keller.

No charges have been filed at this time.

The report says the assistant business manager engaged in “dual endorsing.”

Per Keller’s report, the school would write a check to a vendor for alleged services performed at the school.

Some of those services included consulting, cleaning, IT support, and providing general supplies.

The investigation found the assistant business manager would apparently sign many of the checks over to herself, per a press release.

Keller says the investigation began when a vendor noticed financial irregularities on an IRS form issued by the school. The vendor said the amount charged seemed far more than the amount of the actual services provided.

“Hundreds of kids were defrauded of funding that should be going to their education,” Keller said in a statement.

Names weren’t used in the report, but officials with the La Promesa Early Learning Center confirmed that Julieanne Maestas was the former assistant business manager referred to in the report.

She is the daughter of APS Board Member Analee Maestas, who founded and was the Executive Director at the school until last year.

Keller adds that some of the money deposited into the personal accounts was used for day-to-day expenses or to pay off debt/loans.

A new administration has taken over at La Promesa. The New Mexico Public Education Department has also seized control of its day-to-day financial operations.

We left messages for Board Member Maestas that have yet to be returned.

We’re trying to find contact information for her daughter, but were unable to reach her at the time this report was written.